Apologetics: Defending the Christian Worldview

“It is true that we are more directly concerned with the Bible when we deal with theology than when we deal with the other sciences, but it is not true that in the other sciences we are not at all concord with the Bible. Even in the study of zoology or botany the Bible is involved. The Bible sheds its indispensable light on everything we as Christians study. There is a philosophy of fact in the Bible that we use for the interpretation of every fact of our lives.” - Cornelius Van Til

The Apostle Peter exhorted the Christians of his day to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3). In this class, students will learn to articulate and defend the Christian worldview. Not only will the foundation of this course be the defense of the Christian worldview, but students will develop a broader and deeper understanding of how the Bible applies to every area of life.

Did you know that Scripture has something to say about economics? Politics? Education? Social Issues? The hope that is in us, which Christians are called to defend, is a hope that doesn't just concern us with "spiritual things", but every area of our lives to advance the kingdom of God for His glory. Not only will students learn the tactics of giving a defense, they will learn to defend the Christian faith using Scripture itself, regarding everything in the world around us.

Course Objectives:

The student will be able to:

1. Define the term “apologetics.”
2. Debunk common misunderstandings of the Bible and the Christian Worldview.
3. Analyze and understand other worldviews including atheism, agnosticism, mysticism, pantheism, etc.
4. Analyze and understand the worldviews of other religions and cults including Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, etc.
5. Understand how the Bible applies to every area of life.
6. Describe the importance of evangelism.
7. Evaluate debates between a believer and a non-believer.

Texts:

• Against All Opposition by Greg Bahnsen

• Impossibility of the Contrary by Greg Bahnsen

• Pushing the Antithesis by Greg Bahnsen

• Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths by Gary DeMar

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

• Persuasions by Douglas Wilson

• Is Christianity Good for the World? by Douglas Wilson